Bridle-bit



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BIRD E. HENSLEY, OF SALEM, OREGON, ASSIGNOIR OF ONE-HALF T0 CHARLES W. MEEKER, 0F SALEM, OREGON.

BRIDLE-BIT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

Application filed April 28, 1919. Serial No. 293,106.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Bun) l). llnNsLnY, a citizen of the United States, residin at Salem, in the county of Marion and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridle-Bits, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in bridle bits adapted for use with horses, and is designed especially with the purpose of providing a bit that may be utilized either for driving gentle horses or mules, or, when required, is adapted for curbing wild animals. And this interchangeable use of the bit may be accomplished by the removal or disconnection of the curb chain which passes around back of the horse's jaw when the bit is used as a curb device.

The invention consists essentially in the combination in a bit with the bit bar of an oscillatable curb shank or lever, and the fixed cheek bar for attaching the usual driving rein and bridle support, and in certain other features in connection with these elements which will be described and. claimed hereinafter.

in the accompanying drawings one complete example of the physical embodiment of the invention is illustrated constructed and arranged according to the best mode far devised for the practical application of the principles of the invention. 1

Figure 1 is a rear view in elevation of the bit, partly in section for convenience of illus tration.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the bit.

Fig. 3 is a. detail, fragmentary view of the bridle support.

In the preferred form of the invention as illustrated in the drawings, the usual rounded bit bar 1 is provided for the mouth piece of the animal, and this bar, at eachend. is formed with a cylindrical head 2, slightly enlarged, a reduced bos 3, slightly reduced, and a further reduced, threaded extension 4 in the form of a threaded stud, as shown.

The bit bar has the bridle and rein support, indicated as a whole by the numeral 5, secured thereto, and the oscillatable curb shank or lever 6 has at its upper end an opening 6 for the curb chain which passes back under the horses jaw, and at the lower end is formed with a loop 6 to which is attached the curb strap. The curb lever is fashioned with a hub 7 and the hub is counterbored to form seats 8 and 9, circular in form and concentric in order to fit neatly over the head 2 and the boss 3 of the bit bar. The lever, through its hub is free to swing or oscillate on its bearing comprising the head and boss, and it is so swung when the curb is used by drawing on the curb strap attached to loop 6.

The shank or lever is retained on its hearing by means of the lock nut 10, threaded on the stud 4t, and through. the instrumentality of the nut the bridle support, with its cheek bar 11 and its rein support 12, are held. rigidly on the bit bar, the respective loops 11 and 12 being for the attachment of the cheek strap of the bridle passing upwardly over the horses head, and the rein strap for usual driving conditions.

The bridle and rein support 5 has formed therein an opening, 13 of somewhat triangular shape to receive the similarly shaped boss or lug 14; on the lock 10, and it will readily be apparent that when the nut is turned or threaded home on the stud, the bridle and rein support 5 is held with fixed relation on the bit bar. The nut also bears against the boss 3 of the bit bar and thus retains the curb lever on the bit bearings therefor.

It will be readily apparent that when the animal is to be curbed, pull is applied to the curb straps and the curb levers or shanks are pulled rearwardly as the lever swings on its pivot bearings, and at the same time the end 6 of the lever is forced forward, drawing the curb chain against the underside of the animals jaw. If the curb device is not required, the curb chain may be disconnected at one end from the perforated end 6 of the levers, and then the usual rein pull is on the rein attached. to the loops 12. Thus the bit may be adapted for use either with a wild animal or a gentle animal, as required, and in either case provides a humane and comfortable bit for animal use.

What I claim is- 1. The combination with a bit bar having a circular head, a circular boss, and a reduced threaded stud at each end, of a pair of curb levers each having a counterbored hub and oscillatable on the head and boss, means for attaching curb chains to said levers, a bridle support and a lock nut engaging the bridle support at each end of the bar, and said nuts each having a locking lug to seat in an opening in each support.

2. A bridle bit comprising a bit bar having threaded ends and bearing portions adjacent to said ends, curb levers oscillatable on said bearing portions, and having curb attaching openings, bridle supports alongside the curb levers, and lock nuts on said threaded ends engageable with the said bearing portions and With said supports and securing said bridle supports in nonmovable relation to the bit bar.

3. A bridle bit comprising a bit bar having threaded ends and bearing portions adjacent to said ends, curb levers oscillatable on said bearing portions and having curb at taching openings, bridle supports alongside the curb levers, and lock nuts on said threaded ends and adapted to abut the said bearing portions, said nuts and said bridle supports having relatively engaging portions whereby to lock the latter in non-movable relation to the bit bar.

In testimony whereof I afiix my si nature.

BIRD E. HENS AEY. 

